This is an inevitable result of ALPA creating SCOPE clauses and yet wanting to represent those same groups who were being restricted. We don't want to see restrictions at DAL to our flying and neither do they. ALPA cannot represent two conflicting interests. One could argue that airlines that are served by their union have their interests only at heart and do better - SWA, AMR, etc.

ALPA has done much good over its history. However, it seems to have become prostrate by politics and views that are not shared by its majority. One problem with going independent is political leverage. One of the reasons that Clinton invoked the PEB on APA was that they were a small independent union. When NWA struck a little over a year later they were able to remain on strike because Clinton didn't want to incur the ire of the AFL/CIO who is a major supporter of the democratic party. We would never be able to match the ALPA PAC support of political parties as an independent union so our fight when it came to politics could be harder.

One thing is clear, we may be leading the charge on forcing ALPA to define itself and its pilot groups. Failure to do this may in fact make it more compelling to going alone.